Refrigerating apparatus



Patenteci Julyv 12, 1938 z,123,73s H .mmonname mmTUs `Iohn Kir'zan, Easton, Pa., assignor to Inzersoii- Band Company; Jersey tion of New Jersey City, N. J., a corpora- [Application May 8, 1936, Serial No. 78,528

10Ciaims.

My invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and `especially to refrigerating apparatus `comprisingj a vessel in which a liquid refrigerant is cooled 'by vapofrizing part therecf and evacuator means of the thermo-compressor type to removefrom said vessel the vapor so formed and transfer it to a suitable condenser.

An object of. the invention is' to provide refrigerating apparatus of thiskind that is compactl in design to enable space to be saved both horizontally and verticaiiy wherever it is installed.

It is also an object to provide refrigerating apparatus having an evaporator vessel and a condenser disposed o'ne abovethe other. with the evacuator means so connecting' said parts as to reduce the size of thewhole to a minimum. In-

the preferred construction the condenser is at ,'the top, and the evacuator means couples the condenser to' the upper part of the evaporator, where the vapor is created; and, without adding v to the total height, still has the requisite length for efllcient operation. A

Another object is to provide refrigerating a'pparatus having evacuator means arranged to carry off vapor from the evaporator through a discharge fiue thattpasses through the evaponator, but is insulated therefrom, to' prevent transference of heatr thereto. An additional object is to provide in a refrigl erating apparatus built as .set forth above with a central flue to deliver the vapor to the condenser, an evaporator containingv multiple chamo bers and simple means for controlling the inflow and outfiow of the refrigerant to permit '35 easy and quick adjustme'nt for'l full load or part load output.

- A further object of the invention is to'provide refrigerating apparatus which is easily 'as- 'sembledand the various parts whereof are, so disposed that the entire unit is strong land rigid I and brsced by the various 'members constituting same.`

With these and other objects and advantages the invention consists in the arrangement illus- A vtrated in the drawing and pointed out in1th`e appended .claims; and though only a single form of the improvement is disclo'sed, I may of course make various changes in the embodiment set forth without departing' from the principle of the invention, or exceeding its scopeand spirit. In the drawing Figure 1 is a Vertical sectional view through the refrigerating apparatu's according to this invention, and .t

Figure '2 is a horizontal section von the linel 2-2 of FigureL- (ci. (sz-115i In the form shown in the drawing the'numeral I indicates'an evaporatoryesel or tank` to which the liquid refrigerant. such as water, to be cooled is admitted'at the side near the lower end through an inlet port 2. In this vessel some 5 of the refrigerant is vaporized and the vapor is -withdrawn through one or more outlet ports 3 in the sides at the top by means of steam ejectors or evacuators l. These eiectors create and maintain a vaeuum of the desired degree in the V10 evaporator I so that the formation of vapor is accomplished. The vapor withdrawn from the evaporator is `transinitted to a condenser 5, which is above the evaporator; and liquefied, whiiethe main 'body of the liquid which is cooled is drawn 15 ;out through the bottom of the evaporator .I by` 'way of a conduit 6. The refrigerant entering the evaporator by way of the inlet 2 is at such temperature thatv part of it will be vaporized at once, the vacuum in the evacuator'being main- .20

` tained high enough'for this' purpose. f

To,enable the system to operate emciently at i less than full load the evaporator is divided by spaced Vertical partitions 'I into a piurality of separate chambers I. The lower extremities of 25 these chambers 8 are determined by the false bottoms 8 located at the same level near the lower end of 'the evaporator, and the evaporator has a central sleeve IO extending through it from top to bottom. A discharge pipe or fiue li for 30 'the evacuators. passes up through ths sile'eve into the condenser 5. These evacuators are at no point higher than the top of the condenser,

'and they extend away from the condenser to provide Vsuilcient length of discharge conduit'2t 35 A without increasing the overall heightV of the structure. fI'he vevacuators are connected to the fiue I I below the evaporator. This ilue is somewhat'smalier in diameter than the bore of the sleeve so that a space |2 lies between the two 40 and this space may be an air space'or be filled with insulation so that there is a minimum transfer of heat between the parts IO andv ii. Within the chambers 8 'are Vertical partitions ll similar to theipartitions 'I which are spaced 45 around and extend from the sleeve ito the side wall of the evaporator I. .In the construction shown the partitions 'i extend ,from the botto'm I to .the vtop of the evaporator i, whereas the partitions il extend from. the `bottom 9 but 50 .terminate short of the top of the evaporatorl tank. Hence,'since for each'partition 1 there is a corresponding partition il, a pair of weils .IS are formed which are bounded by the partitions 'I and I I. the wall of the evaporator vessel i, an the s'leeve ll. The wells II are open at the bottom since each section of the false bottom Shasthesamegeneralshapeasthecm section ofone of the chambers 8 a'nd is secured toa partition'l ononesideandtoapartition il on the Opposite side. Just below the false bottoms I is av transverse compartment Il which v is normally full of water or other liquid refrig-- 'erant coming inv through the inlet 2, this com- 10 partment being formed by the false bottoms t and a lsecond false bottom li'that is above the lower end of the evaporator and forms a compartment i'l which is drained by the outlet conduit I. The wells II are 'in open communication through the open bottom thereof with chamber II. Thus the wells I! are supplied with liquid refrigerant from the chamber ll'which rises in the wells and flows over the tops of the partitions H to the chambers I where the refrigerant is cooled. The second bottom Il' is in the form of an annular ring and completely encircles' the sleeve It. Both bottoms are pierced by the Atubular members I! through which the chilled liquid is conveyed'from the chambers 8 to the 'lower compartment I'I. Of course if desired the partitions ll may have openings 3| therein below the top edges Vthereof to divide the water entering the I into a number of sprays or jets. v

In operation when the evaporator receives a liquid refrigerant. such as water. through the inlet 2 the water` will rise from the compartment Il through the'wells il and will flow over the upperJ edges of the partitions ll and downward into the two chambers l. Part of the water isvaporlzed and the vapor is drawn out through the outlets 2 while the remainder of the water remains liquid and is cooled. flowing out through the passages i! into the compartment l'l; and is drawn .40 off by the pipe I; The pump 2| causes the cooled water to circulate and forces it into a ccolingcoil 2| located at a place where a refrigerating effect is desired. The refrigerant in this cooling coil abscrbs heat and after being wamied is returned through a connection from one end of this coolins coil to the inlet 2 and cooled over.

`Each of the ejectors'l eomprises a steam chest 22 which receives steam through a pipe 23. At

2| are the steam nozzles which direct a jet of fluid into the mouths 2| of tubular casings 2| connected to the ejectors l. these casings being vL-shaped and communicating with .the central iiue ll at their lower ends. By way of example,

I show only two evacuators and two chambers. 55. and use in this case a four-way fltting indicated at 21 beneath the evaporator i, this' fitting resting upon a tuhular pedestal 28. One way through I the fltting is connected to the-conduit i and two more are Joined to `the lower end of each of the casings 2|. The fourth way is sealed by a closure ed together.

will then have more than four ways through it.

Ifnecessarythememberfl mayof ccursebepro- 15 vided with proper draining facillties (not shown).

. opeating ejector the pressure will rise until it down the level of the water in ithe passage and other fastentbi! Dedestal to be easily connect' on the normal operation Of course more chambers and 'evacuators may be employed. and the .iltting 21'.

for the removal of any liquid which may 'collect therein or ilow down'the flue The condenser 5.' preferably of the 'barometric type, has an opening ll in its top to be connected :to an evacuator for withdrawing air and noncondensible gases from the' condenser and a cooling liquid is supplied to the interior of the condenser thrush a pipe IL' Within the condenser are deflectr plates 32 which are staggered so that the water coming 'in through the pipe 3| is divided and the vapors entering the condenser from the conduit I I are caused to mingle with the -water and give the greatest liquefying effect. 'nie water and liq'uefied steam are drained out from the condenser by pipe Ii.

With this construction it will be seen that the apparatus is very compact and strong and the parts are disposed so that effective operation under varying working conditions is facilitated. If it be desired to run at part load. the steam. for one of the ejectors l can be cut off by shutting a suitable 'valve (not shown) in the pipe 23. 'In the chamber which is connected to a nonequals the pressure in the condenser. and the level of the refrigerant in the associated well li will 'then automatically sink so that it will no longer flowV over the top of the partition therein. Also the pressure in that chamber will force through the member il thereof. The non-operating chamber, shown at the left in Ii'igure l, is thus sealed by the refrigerant in the compartment |`I and in its well |2, while the other chamber or chambers continue to refrigerate. Henee no valves except the vaives for the steam pipes 23 are needed. At the same time the construction is very simple and can bel assembled and set up or taken down merely by 'removing the bolts or other fastenlngs (not shown) which hold the evaporator I, evacuators l, casin'gs 2| and the parts 21 and 2|/ together.

It will be seen that the warm refrigerant re- I turning from the coil 2| to the wells IS, which it resches by passing through the compartment II, makes contact with the false bottom:l I and I! which are also in contact with the chilled water. Some heat is of course transferred through these bottom plates from the warmed returned water to the outfiowing chilled water. but this transfer 'does not constitute a loss `of refrigeration because a ny heat given to the chilled water by the retum water reduces the quantity of heat which must be removed' from the retum water in the evaporator I. Buch heat as may be taken up by the chilled water, is not 'enough to materially raise its temperature. To preventrother heat 'losses the barometric condenser I on top of the evaporator may be so moimted on the evaporator that an air space (not shown) can be enclosed -between the top of the evaporatcrand the bottom of the condenser; 'or the condenser may be separate and any suitable heat insulating material may be placed between the bottom thereof and the e'vaporator. In practice the top of the ev`aporator will always be fllled' with vapor caused by -vaporizati'on of the refrigerant. and even if the influence of the condenser heats this va'por slightly, it will not have any notieeable effect of the evaporator or to reduce the capacity of the steam let boosten'.

fclaim:

1. Refrigerating evaporator tank. a condenser. evacuator means appara tus i comprising an I 'for the tank, and means forming an; insulated 7| supporting the other, anl insulated discharge fiue vazs aiaa'zsa passage through the tank into the condenser, lsaid evacuator means being connected to discharge,

into the condenser through the said passage.

2. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator vessel, a condenser vessel, one vessel extending through the evaporator vessel into the condenser vessel, and evacuator means connect-` ing the evaporator vessel to said fiue.

3'. Refrigerating apparatus 'comprising an evaporator tank, an insulated discharge fiue ex'- tending through the tank, a fitting connected tov one end of said fiue, said fitting also supporting the tank, and ejector means connected to said fitting and to the tank to withdraw vapor from the tank'and discharge same into said fiue.

'4. Refrigerating apparatus comprising a pedestal, a fitting on said pedestal and having a closure in line With the pedestal, an evaporator tank mounted on said fitting, a condenser above the evaporator tank, said evaporator having an i'nsulated cnduit extending through the tank, said ,conduit being connected to the fitting and extending' into the condenser, and ejector means communicating with the evaporator tank and coupled to said fitting to discharge into said conduit.

5. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator tank having a condenser supported thereby, =an insulated fiue extending centrally through the tank into the condenser, upright spaced partitions in the tank at each side of said fiue forming wells between them and dividing the tank into' separate vaporization chambers, and means for discharging vapor from the chambers into the fiue.

6. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator tank having a condensersupported thereby, an insulated. fiue extending centrally through the tank into the condenser, means in the .tank forming inlet Wells and dividing the tank into separate vaporization chambers, the tank having means forming two'compartments one above the other near the bottom of the tank, the upper4 compartment communicating with said wells and having a Aconnection to admit a liquid refrigerant to the compartment, and the lower compartment being connected with the chambers to enable unvaporized refrigerant to be withdrawn from the chambers, and means for discharging vapor from the chambers into the flue.

7. Refrigerating apparatus comprisng an evaporator tank, a condenser supported by the tank, a discharge fiue extending through the tank and into the condenser, means insulating the fiue from the tank, and ejector means connecting the upper part of said evaporator with said fiue to discharge vapor from the evaporator into said fiue.

8. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator tank, a condenser superposed on the evaporator, a dischargeV fiue extending through the tank and into the condenser, means insulating the fiue from the tank, and ejector means connecting the upper part of the tank with said fiue below the tank.

9. Refrigerating apparatus evaporator tankya condenser -superposed on the tank in' axial alignment therewith,fejector means connected to the tank andextending away from comprising an said condenser, an insulated fiue connected to receive the discharge of said'ejector means and extending centrally through -the tank to convey such discharge into said condenser, and means axially aligned with the tank,'condenser and'flue to support the same.

10. Refrigerating apparatus comprising an evaporator' tank, a condenser, an insulated fiue extending through the tank into the condenser,

spaced partitions in the tank forming Wells be- JOHN KIRGAN., 

